Method and apparatus for scraping ice and snow and illuminating a scraping area

ABSTRACT

An ice/snow scraping apparatus and method characterized by an edge-illuminated, light transmitting scraping blade which provides illumination for the interior and scraping edge of a blade, thereby illuminating at least a portion of an area to be scraped from the blade illumination phenomena.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 841,242, filed Mar. 19,1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,947.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The major object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmethod and apparatus for scraping ice snow from a surface such as avehicle windshield.

The invention is intended to provide an improvement in the ice scrapingart in relation to such exemplarary prior accomplishments as those setforth in the following previously issued patents:

    ______________________________________                                        U.S. Pat. No.                                                                             Inventor     Issue Date                                           ______________________________________                                        Des 246,414 Hopkins et al                                                                              November 22, 1977                                    4,040,140   Hopkins et al                                                                              August 9, 1977                                       4,141,111   Hopkins et al                                                                              February 27,1979                                     4,164,801   Thomas       August 1, 1979                                       4,275,476   Hopkins et al                                                                              June 30, 1981                                        4,458,320   Batt         September 3, 1985                                    ______________________________________                                    

The primary objective of the present invention is to improve the ice andsnow scraping art by affording a scraping apparatus and method by meansof which convenient and affective work facilitating illumination of ascraping edge and scraping work area may be provided.

It is recognized that the broad concept of incorporating a light sourcewith a cutting device or other tool has heretofore been considered, asevidenced by the following prior patent disclosures:

    ______________________________________                                        U.S. Pat. No.                                                                             Inventor     Issue Date                                           ______________________________________                                        1,369,378   Berberian    February 22, 1921                                    1,890,841   Brown        December 13, 1932                                    1,988,379   Gilles       January 15, 1935                                     2,242,536   Montgomery   May 20, 1941                                         2,466,342   Watts        April 5, 1949                                        4,305,118   Paquette     December 8, 1981                                     ______________________________________                                    

It has also been recognized in the art that various types of auxiliarymechanisms may be incorporated with scraping tools, as evidenced by thefollowing prior patents:

    ______________________________________                                        Patent Inventor  Issue Date    Combined Feature                               ______________________________________                                        2,676,348                                                                            Brody et al                                                                             April 27, 1954                                                                              Coin Holder                                    2,700,096                                                                            Clements  January 18, 1959                                                                            Heater                                         4,481,690                                                                            Simmons   November 13, 1984                                                                           Key Case                                       ______________________________________                                    

None of the foregoing patents contemplate or suggest the concept of thepresent invention which entails the achievement of unique scraperillumination by effecting edge illumination of a light transmittingscraper blade so as to illuminate the interior and scraping edge of theblade, with such illumination being transmitted to an at least partiallyilluminating an area being scraped and at least a portion of this areabeneath the body of the scraping blade.

In achieving the basic objectives of the present invention, method andapparatus concepts are presented as follows:

An apparatus for scraping ice and snow from a surface such as an vehiclewindshield is contemplated, which apparatus comprises:

handle means operable to be gripped by a user;

light transmitting blade means extending from this handle means;

light transmitting scraping edge means at an outer portion of the blademeans;

light source means supported by the handle means and including

electric power source means,

electric light bulb means, and

switch means selectively operable, in response to operation by the handof the user, to electrically connect the power source means and lightbulb means and cause illumination of the light bulb means; and

blade edge illumination means including

a non-scraping blade edge means contained within the handle means andexposed to the light bulb means, and

means mounting the light bulb means for the transmission of light to thenon-scraping blade edge means. The switch means above noted is operableto cause

illumination of the light bulb means, with the illumination of the lightbulb means causing

illumination of the interior of the light transmitting blade means andthe light transmitting scraping edge means.

Illumination from the light bulb means is transmitted through theinterior of said light transmitting blade means to the scraping edgemeans, with such transmitted illumination

illuminating the interior of the light transmitting blade means so as toilluminate at least a portion of an area between the body of the blademeans and a surface being scraped and,

illuminating a portion of the surface immediately adjacent the scrapingedge means.

The main apparatus as described above may further include:

shroud means at least partially surrounding the handle means andproviding

access to the switch means by the hand of the user, and

means shielding the switch means from ice and snow during scrapingoperation of the apparatus.

The main method aspect of the invention for scraping ice and snow from asurface such as an vehicle windshield, comprises:

providing handle means operable to be gripped by a user;

providing light transmitting blade means extending from the handlemeans;

providing light transmitting scraping edge means at an outer portion ofthe blade means;

providing light source means supported by the handle means and including

electric power source means,

electric light bulb means, and

switch means selectively operable, in response to operation by the handof the user, to electrically connect the power source means and lightbulb means and cause illumination of the light bulb means;

providing blade edge illumination means including

a non-scraping blade edge means contained within the handle means andexposed to the light bulb means, and

means mounting the light bulb means for the transmission of light to thenon-scraping blade edge means;

operating the switch means to cause

illumination of the light bulb means, with the illumination of the lightbulb means causing

illumination of the interior of the light transmitting blade means andthe light transmitting scraping edge means; and

transmitting illumination from the light bulb means through the interiorof the light transmitting blade means to the scraping edge means, withsuch transmitted illumination

illuminating the interior of the light transmitting blade means so as toilluminate at least a portion of an area between the body of the blademeans and a surface being scraped and,

illuminating a portion of the surface immediately adjacent the scrapingedge means.

The main method as described in above may be supported by providingshroud means at least partially surrounding the handle means, with thisshroud means

providing access to the switch means by the hand of the user, and

shielding the switch means from ice and snow during scraping operationof the apparatus.

The apparatus and method aspects of the invention having beensummarized, it is now appropriate to give further consideration (but notby way of limitation of the invention) to a presently preferrredembodiment as illustrated in the appended drawings and discussed in thesubsequent detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In describing the present invention for information purposes, but not byway of limiting the scope of the invention, reference will be made to apresently preferred embodiment as illustrated in the appended drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 provides a top plan view (partially fragmentary) of an icescraper apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 provides an exploded, perspective view of separated components ofthe ice scraping apparatus of the present invention, illustrating theirgeneral functional and positional interrelationships; and

FIG. 3 provides a fragmentary sectional view of FIG. 1, as viewed alongline 3--3 of FIG. 1.

Having described the general content of the appended drawings relatingto a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, reference will nowbe made to a more detailed description of this embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, implementation of the presentinvention involves the use of an apparatus 1 such as that shown in thesedrawings.

The apparatus 1 for scraping ice and snow from a surface such as avehicle windshield, includes a handle means 2 operable to be gripped bya user and a light transmitting blade means 3 extending from this handlemeans 2.

A light transmitting scraping edge means 3a is disposed at an outerportion of the blade means 3. A light source means 4 is supported by andwithin the handle means 2 and includes electric power source means 5,electric light bulb means 6, and switch means 7. Switch means 7 isselectively operable, in response to operation by the hand of the user,to electrically connect the power source means 5 and the light bulbmeans 6 and cause illumination of the light bulb means 6.

Apparatus 1 further includes blade edge illumination means 8 comprisinga non-scraping blade edge means 9 contained within the handle means 2and exposed to the light bulb means 6, as well as means 10 mounting thelight bulb means for the transmission of light to the non-scraping bladeedge means 9.

STRUCTURAL DETAILS

As shown in FIG. 2, handle means 2 comprises mating half-sections 101and 102, with section 101 including a lip-like securing ledge 103operable to be received between a ledge portion 104 of handle section102. Ledge 104 is provided by a generally rectangular frame-like portion105 of handle portion 102 which defines an aperture for telescopinglyreceiving a portion 106 of blade 3. Telescoping portion 106 passesthrough the opening of frame portion 105 and extends telescopingly overa bulb receiving socket 107, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Blade 3 is fabricated from transparent, or translucent, lighttransmitting plastic of the type commonly employed in ice scrapers ofthe type delineated at the outset of this disclosure.

The electric power source 5 may comprise a pair of conventionalbatteries 108 and 109 which may be of the "AAA" type. Batteries 108 and109 are disposed in series connectioned within a spring-like metalspring socket 110, which socket 110 is disposed in a receptacle portion111 of body section 102. Battery receiving spring means 110 iselectrically conductive in nature and provides an electricallyconductive path from the negative terminal 112 of battery 109 to aflexible switch-lip 113. The threaded portion 114 of bulb 6 has aterminal end 115 which passes through an opening 116 in spring member110 into electrical connecting engagement with the positive terminal 117of battery 108. An insulating washer-like paper or plastic or cardboardmember 118 is mounted on the threaded portion 115 of bulb 6 so as toinsulate the bulb and its electrical contact 115 and its threadedportion 114 from the metallic strip 110.

With this arrangement, the completed electrical connection between thebatteries and the bulb 6 is not completed until the switch-strip 113 isdeflected downwardly into contact with the threaded portion 114 of bulb6 (the bulb 6 being securely received within the socket 107). Thisselectively operable downward deflection of the resilient switch tang113 is caused by an operator's engaging a downwardly deflectableswitching tab 119 formed in body portion 101. With a users hand insertedinto the muff 13, the thumb of the user may engage the tang 119 anddepress it downwardly so as to cause the conductive switch tab 113 toengage the threaded portion 114 of bulb 6, complete the electricalconnection between the battery assembly and the bulb, and cause the bulb6 to be illuminated.

With the bulb 6 illuminated, light is transmitted directly through theopening defined by body frame portion 105 into the non-scraping, lightreceiving end 106 containing the non-scraping edge means 9. Socket 107of mounting means 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, so secures and mountsbulb 6 as to cause this light to be transmitted longitudinally into theedge or end portion 9 of blade 9 where it is then transmittedlongitudinally through the interior 11 of the blade 3 to the scrapingedge 3a. This transmitted light thus illuminates the scraping terminus3a of the blade and the adjacent surface being scraped by this terminusand also provides illumination between the body 12 of the blade and theunderlying surface being scraped.

As will be appreciated, the light and battery assembly are held in placeby assembly of the portions 101 and 102. This assembly is effected byinserting the tang 103 underneath the ledge 104 and then securing theoutward ends of the handle sections 101 and 102 by a threaded fastener120 which passes through and opening in the end 121 of handle portion101 into a securing socket 122 and the end of handle portion 102.

The assembly of portions 101 and 102 is effected after the end portion106 of blade 3 is telescopingly inserted into the socket 105 into matingengagement with the light bulb socket 107, with lip 103 providing alocking plate between the top of the blade 3 and the underside of ledge104 as shown in FIG. 3. Blade 3 is may be secured within the handle byway of suitable detent arrangements such as pins or stubs 123 projectingfrom the underside of the blade 123 into socketed engagement withsockets or recesses 124 formed in handle 102 as generally depicted inFIGS. 1 and 2.

As is shown in FIG. 1, by way of example, a neck-like opening 125 formedat the end of the shroud 13 which is mounted on the scraper may besocketed in groove or recess portions 126 and 127 extending laterallyinwardly from opposite sides of the blade 3, as generally shown in FIG.1.

Blade 3, on its underside, may have bas-relief, etched design means. Theedge illumination of the blade 3, in being directed edgewise of such adesign, will produce unusually attractive, illumination enhancement ofedge portions of such a design.

Blade 3 may be curved or flat, flaired, laterally outwardly diverging,or of other configuration and/or may be provided with ice-breakingridges, etc. Scraping edge 3a may be continuous or divided transverselyinto separate segments or fingers.

A muff-like shroud means 13, generally as described in the aforesaidBatt U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,320, may at least partially surrounding thehandle means 2 and provide access to the switch means 7 by said hand ofsaid user, and shield the switch means 7 from ice and snow duringscraping operation of said apparatus 1.

The disclosure of the aforesaid Batt patent is herein incorporated byreference insofar as it generally depicts the mounting of a muff or mitlike shroud on an ice scraper with this mitt shielding the ice scraperhandle and a user's hand gripping the handle 2 within the shroud means13. As will be apparent from FIG. 1, shroud 13 is illustrated only infragmentary, sectional format.

EDGE ILLUMINATION AND SCRAPING METHOD

With the apparatus as theretofore described, a unique blade edge andscraping area illumination is able to be achieved in connection with iceand snow scraping operations in the following described manner.

By operating the switch means 7, illumination of the light bulb means 6,is caused. This illumination of the light bulb means 6 causesillumination of the interior 11 of the light transmitting blade means 3and the light transmitting scraping edge means 3a.

Illumination is transmitted from the light bulb means 6 through thelight transmitting interior 11 of the light transmitting blade means 3to the scraping edge means 3a. This transmitted illumination illuminatesthe interior 11 of the light transmitting blade means 3 so as toilluminate at least a portion of an area between the body 12 of theblade means 3 and a surface being scraped. It also illuminates a portionof the surface immediately adjacent said scraping edge means 3a.

OVERALL SUMMARY, NONOBVIOUSNESS, AND SCOPE OF INVENTION

The overall nature of a presently preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been set forth, by way of example only and not by way of limitation,in the preceding description. The invention, as such, is intended to bedelineated by the scope of the appended apparatus and method claims.

Prior art such as that identified at the outset of this disclosure failsto disclose of suggest the unique edge illumination, ice/snow scraperconcept of the present invention and thus attests to the non-obviousnessof the invention.

In describing the presently preferred embodiments of the invention,those skilled in the ice/snow scraping art and familiar with thedisclosure of the prior art and this present invention may wellrecognize additions, deletions, substitutions, modifications, equivalentor other arrangements which would fall within the scope of the inventionwhich is deemed to be set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for removing ice and snow and anycombination thereof from a windshield, comprising:providing scraperhandle means; providing blade means having a scraping end and anon-scraping end, said non-scraping end being secured to said handlemeans; providing selectively operable illumination means comprising apower source and a light source, said illumination means mounted withinsaid handle means and adapted to direct light through said blade means;and scraping ice, snow or any combination thereof from a windshieldutilizing the blade means while said illumination means is activated. 2.A scraping apparatus for removing ice and snow and any combinationthereof from windshields, comprisinga handle means; a translucent blademeans having a scraping end and a non-scraping end, said non-scrapingend being secured to said handle means; and selectively operableillumination means comprising a power source and a light source, saidillumination means mounted within said handle means and adapted todirect light through said blade means.
 3. Apparatus of claim 2 whereinsaid illumination means is selectively operable through a switch meansmounted on said handle means which electrically connects the powersource and light source to illuminate the light source.